Open-end socket wrench



Oct. 12, 1954 A. J. BRAME OPEN-END SOCKET WRENCH 2 Sheeis-Sheet 1 FiledOct. 8, 1952 I FIG. 2.

FIG. 3.

INVENTOR J/ ALLEN J. same Mm ATTORNEYS Oct. 12, 1954 A. J. BRAMEOPEN-END SOCKET WRENCH Filed Oct. 8, 19 52 2 Sheets -Sheet 2 FIG.4

F IG. 8.

INVENT OR ALLEN J. same t ATTORNEYS Patented Got. 12, 1954 OPEN-ENDSOCKET WRENCH Allen J. Brame, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to TubingAppliance Company, Inc., Los Angeles, 6alif., a corporation ofCalifornia Application October 8, 1952, Serial No. 313,726

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to open-end socket wrenches, and consists moreparticularly in new and useful improvements in ratchet operated socketwrenches of the general type shown and described in the patent to FishNo. 2,578,687, designed to facilitate use in difficult applications suchas to encircle tubing, conduit, cable, shafting and the like in closequarters where wrenches of ordinary construction cannot satisfactorilybe employed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved wrenchhead, basically similar to that of the open-end pipe wrench shown anddescribed in my copending application Serial No.

300,260, filed July 22, 1952, and particularly adapted to suit thestructural requirements of a socket wrench of the type above referredto.

Thus, it is a further object of the invention to provide in a socketwrench, a head comprising a pair of stampings which, when superimposed,form the walls of a housing for the socket receptor and the co -actingelements of the pawl and ratchet mechanisms.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved head forsocket wrenches which can be fabricated and assembled at a cost far lessthan that of ordinary socket wrenches, while at the same time combiningmaximum strength and adaptability with minimum overall dimensions foraccomplishment of the desired purposes herein referred to.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a ratchet operatedsocket wrench having a head structure formed of a pair of substantiallyidentical stampings which form the housing for the operative parts ofthe wrench and are designed to provide supporting and guiding trackwaysfor the rotatable hub which receives the shank of the wrench socket.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in the novel featuresherein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designatesimilar parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a view in side elevation showing the assembled wrench with asocket element inserted from its upper side and the operating handle inplace;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the wrench head shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar view from the underside of the wrench;

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of the wrench head shown in Figure 3,with the top cover partly broken away to illustrate the interior of thewrench head, and with the socket omitted;

Figure 5 isa sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line G6 of Fig. 4;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-! of Fig. 4;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a slightly modified wrench headstructure; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 8.

In the drawings, the wrench head is generally designated by the numeralII), and, as shown in Figure 5 for example, one form thereof consists ofa pair of identical superimposed stampings I I and I2, of substantiallyoval shape, in plan profile, as seen in Figures 2 and 3. The stampings II and I2 are provided at one end with longitudinally extendingregistering slots which when the stampings are assembled, form a mouth 7I3 which opens into a circular hub receiving portion I4 which extendstransversely through the two stampings.

As seen in Figure 5 each stamping is provided around its convex outeredge with a right angu larly disposed flange I5, which, when thestampings are assembled, jointly form the side wall of a housing. Theproper assembly of the stampings may be facilitated by the provision ofa pair of complementary and inter-engaging index fingers I5a, Figure 1,such as those shown in my said co-epending application No. 300,260,arranged to seek cooperative engagement in orienting the stampingsduring assembly.

Within the housing formed by the stampings II and I2, there is provideda spacer block it, consisting of a series of metal laminations shaped tofit closely within the confines of the housing and of a similar planprofile. The laminations of the spacer block are transversely drilled atsuitable points and provided with bushings I? as best seen in Figure 6,for receiving connecting pins or rivets I 8 which pass through andsecure the stampings II and I2.

The main web of each stamping is formed with openings to receive therivets I8 and the defining edges of the openings are dimpled as at I9,the.

opposed dimples of respective stampings extending inwardly of thehousing to be received by the corresponding ends of the bushingpassageways in the laminations of the spacer block it. The bushings I!are of such a length that the opposite end faces of the same are engagedby the inner extremities of respective dimples l9, when the stampingsare secured together by the rivets 18.

As in the case of the other wrenches above referred to, the centralportion at one side of the head is provided with a square opening whichextends through the stampings H and i2 and the spacer block It forreceiving the-square end of an operating tool or handle 21 as shown inFigs. 1 to 3.

The circular hub receiving portion M of the head I0 is adapted torotatably embrace a hub or ratchet wheel 22 shown in Fig. 4, formed witha slot 23, adapted to register with the slot i3 comprising the openmouth of the wrench head.

The peripheral edge of hub 22 is transversely reduced in thickness andprovided with a series of transverse notch-like gro'ovesand teeth 2dwhich extend circumferentially around the entire unslotted periphery ofthe hub and are adapted to fit between the overlying inner edges of theopposed stampings H and I2 as shownin Fig. The registering concave edgesof the laminations of spacer block l6 are inset with respect to thecorresponding edges ofthe'stanipings H and (2, to provide an annularrecess for receiving the peripheral teeth 24 of the-hub 22.

In the form of -the invention shown in 'Figs. 5 to 7, the concave inneredges of the stampings II and I2 are'turned inwardly at'ri'ght angles asat 25, to form opposed circular guide ribs which fit in complementarygrooves or trackways 2G in the opposed faces of the hub 22, which definethe inner limits of the're'du'ce'd tooth portion of the hub and serve torotatably support the hub 22 between the opposed 'stampi'ngs H and i 2.

As seen in Fig. 4,"th'e series of ratchet teeth 24 which substantiallybound the hub 22, co-act with a pair of pawls 2'l'fwhich are pivotallymounted in suitablereces'ses 28, formed in the inset, concave face ofthe block i6, adjacent the periphery of the hub 22. These pawls arenormally urged into en'gagement'w'ith the teeth 2% by means of springs29, the pitchpf the teeth being such as to clear the .pawl's uponrelative rotation of the hub and the'hea'din on e'direction and tooperatively engage the pawl's"when rela tive rotation occurs 'in "theopposite direction. The central portionof the hub 22 is "cut out as atto form a semi-circular socket receptor into which the slot 23opehs; v

The annular concave face of the socket receptor preferably terminates insubstantia'll hook-shaped driving shoulders '3'! "and 32, provides atransverse recess "for'the slld'able reception of a complementary shank33 of any selected work-engaging member such as the socket 34 showninFigs. Zand 3. The shank 33 has a cut-out portionwhi'chterminates at eachside in angularly disposed abutments 35 and 3% which form driven facesfor engagement 'with'the hook-shaped shoulders 31 an'd'ii2 respectively.

Thus upon rotaticnof the hub 22 in either direction, the shank 33 of thesocket isp'ositively rotated therewith.

The central portion of'the concave face of the grooves forrotatablysupporting the hub within the housing, I may provide only oneinterned "It flange 38 for rotatably engaging a complementary annularrecess 39 in the reduced peripheral edge of the hub 22. This singleguide arrangement is preferably arranged in the lower stamping 12 asseen in Fig. 9, and the coresponding inner edge of stamping H extendsstraight inwardly as at 40, where it abuts the shoulder of the hub 22and overlies the upper edges of the peripheral teeth 24. For certainuses a wrench of this type, having only the single set of guide grooveand rib, is perfectly satisfactory, as the engagement'of the guide riband groove on one side, coupled with the complementary fit of the edgeof the stamping H in the reduced peripheral edge of the hub 22, affordssufficient lateral support for the rotatable hub.

It is believed that the use of my improved wrench will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, but it may be briefly stated that the slots 13and 23 in the housing and hub respectively are first aligned as shown inFig. 4 and the shank 33 of a selected socket isinserted. The handlez'lis then inserted with its squared end in the squared opening 29andmovement of "the handle in either clockwise or counter-clockwisedirection, depending upon the arrangement of "the teeth'24 with respectto the pawls'28, causes the rotation of the hub 22. Rotation of the hubcauses a driving engagement between the respective hooked shoulders 3!or 32 with th'eabutting driven faces 35, 36, of the'shank of the hub.

As in the case of my said co-pending application, a wrench head formedofopposed'stampings and the laminated spacer block interposed therebetweenand designed to "accommodate the socket element, provides a decidedimprovement over wrenches heretofore' known in this general category.The dimples I9 formed in'the stampings ii and i2 engage the block itcarrying the pawls, and support the loads set up in the use of theWrench, through the webs of the stampings. In other words, the dimples[9 transfer into the block 16 shear'forces created when a torsionalmovement is applied to the hub '22 in the use of the wrench. This is sofor the hub 22 is supported in all rotative positions through thecomplementary flange and'groove constructions shown. The means 'used tosecure the stampings II and I2 in assembled position are thus notsubject to any shear loads but only such tension forces as wouldbecreated by mo merits tending to separatethestampings.

From the foregoing, it is believed that "my'invention may 'be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art without "further description, itbeing borne in mind that numerous changesmay be made in the detailsdisclosed, without departing from the spirit of the-invention as setforth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A socket wrench comprising: a pair of stampings, each stampingincluding a web element and a transverse flange at least partiallycircumscribing said web element, said "stampings adapted to besuperimposed with the end surfaces of said flanges in facewiseengagement to form a housing; a spacer member disposed within saidhousing; the web elements of -:said stampings being formed withcoaxially aligned openings registering with passageways transverselyextending through said spacer member, the defining edges of the openingsin said webs being inturned to form annular shear-resisting elementsreceived within and engaging the wall surfaces at the opposite ends ofthe registered passageway; and

within the opposite ends of said passageway.

2. A socket wrench, comprising: a pair of stampings, each stampingincluding a web element and a transverse flange at least partiallycircumscribing said Web element, said stampings adapted to besuperimposed with the end surfaces of said flanges in facewiseengagement to form a housing; a spacer member disposed within saidhousing; the web elements of said stampings being formed with coaxiallyaligned apertures registering with a passageway transversely extendingthrough said spacer member, the defining edges of the apertures in saidwebs being inturned to form shear-resisting elements received within andengaging the wall surfaces at the opposite ends of said passageway;elongate means extending through said apertures and passageway forsecuring said stampings together with the spacer member therebetween;each web of said housing being formed with a relatively large circularopening; a hub member having at least one groove coaxially formedtherein; at least one of said stampings having an inturned arcuateflange concentric to said opening inter fitting with said groove andcoacting with the walls thereof for supporting said hub elementcoaxially of said opening for rotation; a series of ratchet teethcircumferentially formed about said hub; and at least one pawl pivotallycarried by said spacer member and spring biased into engagement withsaid teeth whereby said hub is rotatably driven as said wrench isrotated.

3. A socket wrench comprising: a pair of stampings, each stampingincluding a web element having an opening therethrough and a transverseflange at least partially circumscribing said web element, saidstampings adapted to be superimposed with the end surfaces of saidflanges in facewise engagement to form a housing; a spacer memberdisposed within said housing; the web elements of said stampings beingformed with a plurality of spaced coaxially aligned aperturesregistering with a passageway transversely extending through said spacermember, the defining edges of said apertures being inturned to formshear resisting elements received within the opposite ends of saidpassageway; a rivet extending through each of said aligned apertures andthe passageway registering therewith for securing said stampingstogether, with the spacer member therebetween; a hub member; guide meanscarried by said hub member and coacting with guide means formed integralwith at least one web for mounting and supporting said hub member onsaid housing for rotative movement with the opposite ends thereofprojecting through the openings of said webs; a series of ratchet teethcircumferentialy formed about said hub; and pawl means pivotally carriedby said spacer member and operative to rotatably drive said hub as saidwrench is rotated, the forces induced into the hub during use of thewrench being transmitted to the webs of said stampings through saidguide means and to the spacer member through the inturned shearresisting elements of said webs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 521,428 Barr June 12, 1894 574,094 Kaufman et a1 Dec. 29, 1896763,105 Morrison June 21, 1904 1,078,059 Mossberg Nov. 11,1913 1,733,012Henderson Oct. 22, 1929 2,500,835 Lang Mar. 14, 1950 2,578,410Filiatreault Dec. 11, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 18,561Great Britain 1909

